SUFFOLK residents could soon be heading just a few miles down the A14 to catch a flight to an array of popular European cities.

Cambridge Airport is just over 11 miles from Newmarket and 25 miles from Bury St Edmunds.

The Newmarket Road site is owned by the aviation firm Marshalls and has largely been used in connection with their business.

However, the firm has now unveiled plans to separate the airport business from the Marshall Group’s other interests.

Last night, Marshalls said it hoped to turn Cambridge Airport into a “leading aviation hub for the east of England”.

Bosses at Marshalls say the airport is already in talks with regional airlines about possible routes, including short-haul European flights to Paris, Milan and Amsterdam, and domestic city hops to the likes of Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast.

They say although they could cater for such business immediately, such routes are more likely to become available in 2012 because airlines usually have an 18-month lead-in time.

Archie Garden has been appointed airport director and will join Robert Marshall, chief operating officer of the Marshall Group, on the airport’s newly-formed supervisory board.

Mr Garden said: “We offer the full spectrum of aviation services and our vision is to develop the principal sectors of executive aviation, regular niche European city services, and aviation training.”

The airport also plans to refurbish the existing passenger terminal and develop its horse transportation market because of Newmarket’s proximity and equine heritage.

Mr Garden said the role of Cambridge Airport could also play a vital role in England’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics.

“We are just 50 minutes by fast road access from Canary Wharf in the City of London and there’s a fast rail link to King’s Cross, which takes just 45 minutes, so we are extremely well positioned for the 2012 games,” he said.

Mr Marshall said: “Our airport has the infrastructure in place to increase our general aviation, business aviation and equine activities, and also to support city hop activities which are seeing an increasing demand.

“Currently some 60 people are employed exclusively to running the airport and we expect this number to grow.”